Skip to content
Mercedes-Benz GL550Model year report

2011 Mercedes-Benz GL550 Problems

Complaints
15filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
69,000miles, 3 complaints with mileage
Recalls
32 do-not-drive
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
14 mpgcombined, 5.5L 8-cyl 4WD · 13 city / 17 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL550 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL550. The part named most often is air bags, with 12 complaints (80% of the total), followed by brakes (1) and electrical system (1). 3 of the complaints include a mileage, and 33% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 69,000 miles. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns (2 marked do-not-drive) and 68 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the inflator module and 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Brakes complaints overlap with 2 recall campaigns covering the vacuum and 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Air bags: “Takata recall - its been over a year and nothing has been done about this. The online system says that the part is not available. The dealer would not take the car in as a trade as they said they cant sell it.”

NHTSA complaint #11047315, filed 2017-11, 69,000 miles

Brakes: “The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL550. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). The contact stated that while reversing, the brake pedal was depressed with an abnormal hissing sound coming from the brake pedal. The contact stated that the sound was audible since the vehicle was purchased in 2019. The local dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. …”

NHTSA complaint #11699386, filed 2025-11, 22,000 miles

Electrical system: “Intermittently car does not engage when key fob is inserted into eis (electric ignition switch) and turned. No dash lights turn on, car does not start. Car has turned off while driving. Car has remained running when key was removed. Key will lock and unlock doors and open hatch.”

NHTSA complaint #11517502, filed 2023-04

Fuel system: “The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL550. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked while accelerating. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, no failure was found. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V496000 (Fuel System, Diesel). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.”

NHTSA complaint #11521108, filed 2023-05, 150,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

33% of the 3 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 22,000 and 150,000 miles.

0%0–1033%10–250%25–5033%50–750%75–1000%100–15033%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (3 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 69,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

2016201772018201920232025
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL550 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
GL550 4matic 4WD5.5L 8-cyl7-speed automatic131714$5,850

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL550 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 68 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 68 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz GL550

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
201582,2003—15—Not enough data
20141033,5003—15—Not enough data
2013662,6863—15—Not enough data
2012861,0003—14—Not enough data
20111569,0003—14—Rising
2009694,6003—14—Not enough data
20081295,5002—14—Not enough data

All Mercedes-Benz GL550 model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL550 have?

NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL550 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL550 is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 12 complaints (80% of the total), followed by brakes with 1.

Has the 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL550 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 of them with a do-not-drive advisory. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL550 get?

The EPA rates the 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL550 (GL550 4matic, 5.5L 8-cyl) at 14 mpg combined, 13 city and 17 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $5,850 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2011 Mercedes-Benz GL550 reported?

Among the 3 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 69,000 miles and the middle half falls between 22,000 and 150,000 miles; 33% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.